[GTP] Reminder-Seminar Daniel Spicer

[Silvia Gentile]

Joint HAO GTP seminar

Daniel S. Spicer
Drexel University

Octobert 21, 2009
Center Green Laboratory 1, Room 2126
Lecture 1:30pm

Critical Examination of the Fundamental Assumptions of Solar Flare and 
CME Models
The fundamental assumptions of conventional solar flare and CME theory 
are examined. In particular, the common assumption that magnetic energy 
that drives flares and CMEs can be stored in situ with sufficient energy 
density is found wanting. In addition, the observational constraint that 
flares and CMEs must produce non-thermal electrons with energies of 
order 10-20KeV with electron fluxes of order 10^34^ - 10^36^ electrons 
to explain the observed hard X-rays when imposed on the 'standard model' 
for flares and CMEs is found to miss the mark by many orders of 
magnitude. We suggest, in conclusion, there are really only two possible 
ways to explain the requirements of observations and theory: flares and 
CMEs are caused by mass loaded prominence or driven directly by emerging 
magnetized flux.